A street, named Via Pretoria, identify the historic center of Potenza. Since the center is located on a hill the people of Potenza (called "potentini") are you used to say see you  "Sopra Potenza (on top of the hill). We will walk along this street to discover churches, palaces, shops, squares.

Time of visit

Half a day for the city center or the whole day for see the place out the city center

Recommended period

All the year

Tips

For those who loved culture and history

FIRST STAGE: HISTORIC CENTER

Let  starts from Porta Salza, one of the three doors remained to the present day, and the first stop is the Church of San Michele Arcangelo, a splendid example of Romanesque art. Inside are preserved two relevant paintings of local painters: L’Annunciazione e La Madonna del Rosario of Pietrafesa and Quindici Misteri of Antonio Stabile.

After the visit of the church we get to Piazza Mario Pagano, the square of Potentini, and home to the lovely Teatro Stabile and the church and convent of St. Francis of the thirteenth-century. 

We continue our pleasant walk among the shops, palaces and small squares to reach the Cathedral of St. Gerardo twelfth century. Very nice is the façade with a portal with two bronze doors, inside of considerable value is the chapel of St. Gerard and the crypt close to the altar.

Leaving the Cathedral a visit of the National Archaeological Museum Dinu Adamesteanu is recommended, it will offer an overview of archeological reality of Basilicata that it was a meeting place of different culture.

Our journey through the old town ends with  Torre Guevara, a witness to the presence of a castle, the ruins were finally removed in the 60's, but you can not leave without tasting the "pizzetta", (a small pizza with tomato) of  Mr. Lovaglio in Piazza Matteotti near of the shrine of St. Gerard, the patron saint of the city.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE READ OUR PAGE ABOUT POTENZA!

WHAT TO SEE AT THE HISTORICAL CENTER OUT

If you still have time we recommend a visit to the Church of Santa Maria del Sepolcro, in the district of Santa Maria, and Musumeci Bridge, built by the homonymous engineer in the late '60s; the bridge  does not have pillars but waves of cement.

IF YOU LIKED THIS TOUR, PLEASE READ ALSO OUR ITINERARY TO DISCOVER MATERA, THE CITY OF "SASSI"!